Signholding Against LANPAC

From 4-6pm on Wednesday afternoon 15 people joined a signholding to protest the LANPAC (Land and Power in the Pacific) Symposium and Exposition being held at the Sheraton Hotel in Waikiki.   

As thousands of people in cars, on bicycles, and riding tourist
 trolleys passed by the banner and signs lining Kalakaua
 Avenue, many gave a thumbs up, shaka, or waved.
  One trolley driver yelled a loud "Ku`e!"

Several hundred leaflets were given to tourists at one of the busiest corners in Waikiki.  Many were puzzled as to why we were protesting in the heart of the tourist area, but when they heard that the military had organized an international conference to further militarize the Pacific many thanked us, including 2 soldiers and 4 tourists from the Middle East who took extra leaflets to give to their friends.   A few still asked what drones were, and there were many who said they felt safer with drones.  One even said she was against all wars, and was so thankful that we now had drones to keep wars from happening!   

"Weapons Sale Rob the People." "Stop Drone Warfare."

This action the first of many that World Can't Wait-Hawai`i has called in solidarity with the national Spring Days of Action to End Drone Killings, Surveillance, and Global Militarization.   The next leafleting will be at the talk by Al Gore at the Stan Sherif Center (lower UH Manoa Campus) from 6-7 pm on Tuesday, April 15.  As one WCW activist said:  "If Al Gore really wants to help Hawai`i save its environment, he should help get the U.S. military out of Hawai`i!"   

"Stop the Killer Drones!"

Visit World Can't Wait Honolulu to learn more about future Hawaii actions.

The nationwide Spring Days of Drone Action continue! Click Here to learn about events in your state!

Spring Days of Drone Action 2014

April Days of Action Against Drones at Pohakuloa Training Area

Demonstrators from Malu'Aina came out on Sunday 4/28 to protest the use of drones at the Pohakuloa Military Training Area, where it is known that pilots are being trained to fly Shadow, Raven, and possibly other drone models as well. They were greeted by a Sergeant from the base who expressed sympathy for their message of peace.

Demonstrators protest the desecration of Pohakuloa
 by live fire military training.

As Jim Albertini of Malu' Aina reports: "The protest began with an opening Pule (prayer) and Oli (chant) ceremony of Ti-leaf blessing of the land and people by Kanaka Maoli women, Napua and Lia... We were blessed to have Kupuna “Uncle Sam” Kaleleiki, a 30-year Marine, retired Sergeant Major, join us. Uncle Sam is now with the Reinstated Lawful Government of the Kingdom of Hawaii.  He had a large plywood sign that read 'End U.S. occupation. '

Realistic Reaper Drone model makes explicit the murderous
 uses to which the military is putting these sacred Hawaiian grounds.

For 2 hours our group of 20 ( a good cross section and mix of all ages) stood opposite the main gate holding signs with a variety of messages: “Stop the Bombing,” “Shut Down PTA,” “Ground the Drones,” “Void the PTA Lease,” etc.  Messages also called for Testing for Depleted Uranium contamination.  We erected a large Hawaiian Flag on a bamboo pole topped with Ti-leaves  to hover above our protest and we placed peace flags along the highway 
fencing.


There was a lot of support from passing cars."

This protest accompanied demonstrations around the country in bringing the
April Days of Action Against Drones to an end. GET INVOLVED INYOUR STATE!

Action at Wheeler AFB in Solidarity with April Days of Action Against Drones!

It was 9am on a beautiful Hawai`i morning . Our drone replica was loaded into the truck. Our car windows were painted, and signs were taped to the sides. We were headed to Wheeler AFB, one of O`ahu's official drone bases - and a place where we'd never demonstrated before.

"We were surprised when we could pull our cars right
 up to the...gate to Wheeler, where our decorated cars would
 themselves be a demonstration."

Wheeler is adjacent to Schofield Barracks, one of the largest U.S. Army bases.  Both are located in Wahiawa, a military town filled with pawnshops, fast food joints, rim shops and massage parlors, and we were feeling pretty apprehensive.   Our spirits were lifted when two women said they'd just heard a news program on NPR reporting on an anti-drone protest at a Waddington base in England and then said there were protests against drones elsewhere that day. Someone immediately pulled up photos of the protest at Waddington.  Another said she'd seen a crawl on the local morning news reporting on drone protests elsewhere. All of this reminded us that our small crew was part of an international movement much larger than just ourselves.  

When we hit the highway to Wheeler we noticed we were getting thumbs-up and from fellow travelers, and we were surprised when we could pull our cars right up to the intersection in front of the gate to Wheeler, where our decorated cars would themselves be a demonstration.  As we began to assemble our drone a guy in a pick-up truck pulled up to ask if it was a Predator or a Reaper, and then proceeded to launch into a rant about the occupation of Hawai`i by the U.S. military.   Maybe it wasn't going to be such a rough day after all!

Predator drone model brings home the reality of U.S. imperialism
 exercised within our communities.

Our group of 14 occupied the area in front of the gate with our banners, signs and drones for two hours.  Most of the military personnel going in and out of the gate completely ignored our presence; a few shouted that we were "ignorant" or defended drones. Two going into the base dressed in military camouflage asked each other what drones were.   A civilian worker stopped his car to ask whether we had a petition because he wanted to get signatures on base, and many of the vendors going into the base gave us a thumbs up.   

"A civilian worker stopped his car to ask whether we had a petition
 because he wanted to get signatures on base, and many of the
 vendors going into the base gave us a thumbs up."

Most of the people who responded to us were traveling along the highway that runs past the base.  While there were some thumbs-down and middle fingers, the majority of those who responded hit their horns or gave us a thumbs up.  Two young women pulled their pick-up to the front of the gate, hopped out, and took their pictures with us.  Many of the people were local people who live in the rural areas and it was really heartening that the response was so positive.  As we left one of the protesters remarked that the reception from passers-by in this military saturated area of the island responded to us  more positively than students at the University of Hawai`i had the previous week.  Another added that the response was even better than at the First Friday Art Walk.  

"Is it really OK if Obama does it?" highlighting the
 intellectual dishonesty and hypocrisy of
 placing implicit trust in President Obama,
regardless of his policies.

We left wondering about the response from people in other areas and eager for news about what was happening elsewhere - including on the island of Hawai`i, where a protest is being held on Sunday at the Pohakuloa Military Training Area and where two ads against drones are currently running in island newspapers.   After more than a year of protesting against drones in Hawai`i, there's a real sense that drones are at least becoming a contentious issue, and there's a growing basis to build a real movement against 
drone warfare and surveillance.

Click here to read more on World Can't Wait Honolulu



Learn more about anti-drone activism that has taken place in April, and GET INVOLVED!

April Days of Action Against Drones: Stop Bombing Pohakuloa!

Stop the desecration & contamination of Hawaiian Kingdom crown Lands at Pohakuloa

Sunday, April 28, 2013

10AM till Noon

Pohakuloa Main Gate

Pot Luck Picnic at Mauna Kea Park following the protest

 (car pools leave Hilo bayfront parking lot makai/Hamakua side of Pauahi St. Kamehameha Ave. intersection at 9AM sharp. Bring water, sunscreen, and be prepared for cool, possibly wet, weather) This is a peaceful, non-violent protest, in solidarity with global anti-drone protests taking place throughout the month of April. Please show respect to all, even those that disagree with us.

      Pohakuloa is the largest U.S. live-fire training area outside the U.S. It is 133,000-acres, nearly 5 times the size of Kaho’olawe. The base is known to be contaminated with Depleted Uranium (DU) and other military toxins. Continued live-fire, and other activities that create dust, risks spreading the radiation and other toxic contamination.

  

    Pohakuloa is also used for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Drone) training. The U.S. is using drones in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, etc. for surveillance and targeted assassinations. Thousands of people, including many innocent children, have been terrorized and killed by missiles and bombs from U.S. drones resulting in increasing hatred of the U.S. around the world.

      We pray that the U.S. not do to others what the U.S. has already done and continues to do to Hawaii: unlawfully occupy its government and nation, desecrate its sacred sites, contaminate its air, land, water, people, plants, and animals with military toxins.

Ground the Drones!

Void the Unlawful Military Lease

Pohakuloa is a Place for Peace 

& Healing!

To get involved, click here!

APRIL DAYS OF ACTION AGAINST DRONES continue around the country!

1. Mourn all victims of violence. 2. Reject war as a solution. 3. Defend civil liberties. 4. Oppose all discrimination, anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, anti-Hawaiian, etc.
5. Seek peace through justice in Hawai`i and around the world.
Malu `Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box AB Kurtistown, Hawai`i 96760.
Phone (808) 966-7622.  Emailja@malu-aina.org   http://www.malu-aina.org

April Days of Action Against Drones: Protest at UH Manoa

A dozen activists carrying banners and leaflets, along with our drone replica, rolled down UH's McCarthy Mall on the morning of Wednesday, 4/17. This action joined demonstrations taking place nationwide as part of the April Days of Action Against Drones.

Realistic Predator drone model hovering
over the collegiate environment

 "Despite being confronted by campus security, we soon began to pass out leaflets on the step of Hamilton Library. Students leaving the library or the food court couldn't miss us. Many took photos of the drone and/or banners on cellphones and told us they'd be posting them to their classmates and on Facebook. Many more took leaflets. A few stopped to talk before rushing on to their next destination.

"Stop The Killer Drones"

We then headed down to Varney Circle, where we continued to hold banners and pass out leaflets and small "Stop Drone" stickers. Some students immediately put the stickers on their backpacks, bikes or skateboards. Some asked for extra to give their friends and classmates. 

Many students and faculty members stopped to thank us. Some had never heard of drones! Some opposed domestic surveillance but were ambivalent about using drones in other countries. A few energetically supported either drone warfare or domestic surveillance.  This is the first time we've been able to put out a strong message against drones at the UH-Manoa Campus and we felt the action was a success.  Now we're gearing up for April 27th, when we'll protest in front of the Wheeler Air Force base near Higgins Gate."

For more information and photos, check out World Can't Wait Honolulu

Learn about April Days of Action Against Drones events all around the country!

Drone Protests - Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island

THE BIG ISLAND

Kailua-Kona - "As President Barack Obama spent his last day, January 5, in Hawaii, representatives from Hawaii Peace and Justice and World Can't Wait protested his assassin drone program and lack of effort on Palestinian issues in front of his Hawaii vacation home." Full details here.


Hilo - Ann Wright gave a presentation on "Killer Drones in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Gaza, and the U.S." at UH-Hilo, on Thursday, January 17.



Pohakuloa Training Area - On January 19, 2013, protesters in Hawaii made a call to Stop the Bombing & Ground the Drones at Pohakuloa!. "Twenty Justice and Peace makers stood in protest outside the main gate at the sprawling 133,000-acre military Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) from 10 AM till noon, located in the center of Hawaii island. The main theme of the protest was to stop the bombing and ground the drones at PTA. It was a beautiful clear day to stand for Aloha ‘Aina in opposition to continuing military desecration of the land. Among those who joined in protest were Hawaiian leaders Kahu Napua Burke, Kaliko Kanaele, Kale Gumapac, along with retired Army Colonel and former State Department Diplomat, Ann Wright."

The group has a replica of a Reaper drone from Know Drones. For more information, contact Jim Albertini ja@malu-aina.org 966-7622 at the Malu `Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box AB Kurtistown, Hawai`i 96760.


OAHU

Honolulu - Ann Wright gave a talk Sunday, December 30, 3pm, at Revolution Books in Honolulu, entitled "Building Resistance to Drone War!" The event was held in conjuctionwith World Can't Wait Honolulu.

(View the interview by Liz Rees of World Can't Wait Honolulu with Ann Wright on Olelo Community Television.)

A major demonstration is planned by World Can't Wait Honolulu on January 21 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and the day of the second Obama inaugural). The demonstration will feature a second drone replica from Know Drones. (See full details here.)


MAUI

Maui - Maui Peace Action and the Peace Club at the University of Hawaii-Maui held a drone talk featuring Ann Wright on January 14. Follow-up materials have been posted on the home page of the the Peace Club.